Ai Weiwei Covers Berlin Landmark With 14,000 Refugee Life Jackets

The artist makes a statement with his transformation of the front of Berlin's Konzerthaus theater space.

Chinese artist Ai Weiwei has never shied away from making a political statement with his work. His well-known piece, Snake Ceiling, was crafted from dozens of backpacks, representing the thousands of young children who died in a poorly constructed elementary school in China during an earthquake. His latest work recalls that visual: this time, he has draped discarded life jackets worn by Syrian refugees around the pillars of Berlin's famed Konzerthaus performance space, where a gala for Cinema For Peace, a group dedicated to highlighting films about social justice, was held this week. The collection of 14,000 bright orange vests represents the men, women, and children who escaped conflict and crossed water to reach the Greek island of Lesvos. Ai's interest in these refugees goes well beyond this latest installation: He has worked from the island and in recent weeks, has dedicated his Instagram account to photographs of refugees.

Ai isn't the only artist whose work has been inspired by the ongoing migrant stories in Europe. British street artist Banksy recently painted a Les Miserables-inspired mural across from the French embassy in London to call attention to what he considers unjust treatment of migrants in the port town of Calais, where many migrants hope to depart France for Great Britain. He also went to Calais and painted a mural of Apple founder Steve Jobs, whose father emigrated from Syria to the United States. Meanwhile, the Syrian artist Samir al-Mutfi created a spoof of the Super Mario Bros. video game that featured characters dealing with some of the same obstacles that migrants might, like staying afloat in treacherous waters or skillfully dodging an official who seeks a bribe.